Top five players back for Warriors

Westerville North High School boys golf coach Bob Markin was excited enough to have all of his top five back from last year.

DAVE PURPURA, ThisWeek Community News

Westerville North High School boys golf coach Bob Markin was excited enough to have all of his top five back from last year.

But this past spring, Markin was thrilled to learn senior Kyle Mondlak planned to return after skipping his junior season to focus on academics. Mondlak backed up Markin's optimism by shooting 78 in the Westerville Central Invitational on Aug. 6 at Little Turtle and 75 on Aug. 7 in the first OCC-Cardinal Division tournament at Turnberry.

While Mondlak led the Warriors in both events, Markin is confident most of his other returnees -- junior Spencer Jordan and sophomores David Fratianne, Ryan Pannell and Malik Sammons -- are equally capable of leading the team.

"I told them that I see, between the (first and fourth golfers), that any of them can be a (No.) 1 man or a (No.) 4," said Markin, who is in his third season. "I expect Kyle to only get better. I expect to see him put pressure on Spencer and Ryan climbing that ladder."

Pannell was a Division I district qualifier last year, tying for third at sectional (74), but he shot an 88 at district and fell short of state.

Jordan and Pannell each shot an 81 in the first of four OCC-Cardinal tournaments, followed by sophomore Quinn Gray (93) and Fratianne (94). Sammons, who shot 93 in the Westerville Central Invitational despite a broken left thumb sustained this summer, sat out the first league event.

"I've learned how to score," Jordan said. "I'm keeping those bigger numbers away. It's turning a double-bogey into a bogey. It's limiting damage when you get into trouble."

Also on the roster is junior Axel Nordstrom, an exchange student from Sweden.

North was 9-19 in OCC-Cardinal play last year, finishing behind champion Jerome (27-1), Central (25-3) and South (18-10).

"I thought we'd have a bunch of sophomores and one junior. I was happy, but I told the guys I expected improvement because we have experience now," Markin said. "They're excited. The motivation is up there for us."

Warhawks plan tobe factor in league

Central began this season of OCC-Cardinal play exactly where it finished last year, second to Jerome.

Second-year coach Kyle Baker hopes the Warhawks again are able to hand the Celtics a league loss, as they delivered Jerome its first league setback last year since 2005, and progress further into the postseason.

"That was a big day for us when we did beat (Jerome), but at the same time it was just a league match and our goals are much bigger," Baker said. "We want to win the OCC, make it through sectionals and districts and get to state. Our goal will always be to make it to state, but there are other teams on a top tier and we want to get through.

"We've explained that to our guys throughout the summer that they have to work their butts off and work really hard to get there. We look up to Jerome, but we want to get out there and beat them every time we play them."

Senior Austin Kondratick quickly established himself as Central's No. 1 player, shooting 73 in both the Westerville Central Invitational and in the first OCC-Cardinal tournament. Sophomore Jack Funderburg added a 74 and senior Buck Carson a 76 at Turnberry.

They were followed by freshman Zach Wengerter (78) and junior Quinn Hanley (87). Senior Nick Davanzo also will compete in some varsity events, but did not participate in the first two tournaments.

"This one through five will be pretty solid," Baker said. "(Kondratick) is just solid. He hits every fairway (and) every green. ... He is someone we can look to break 75 almost every time. So we are counting on him and I think he knows that."

Wildcats hope to thrivedespite small roster

Second-year South coach K.C. Murphy doesn't get upset when he reveals his team has only five players.

The Wildcats' lineup has solid anchors in freshman Troy Taylor and juniors Matt Hoffman and Jared Hrabcak. Taylor shot 79 in both the Westerville Central Invitational and the first OCC-Cardinal tournament, at which Hrabcak shot 73 and Hoffman 75.

"Our top three can compete with anybody, and our (fourth and fifth) guys haven't played a ton," Murphy said. "They just don't have the experience yet. As far as being competitive in these OCC situations and matches, that's not one of the things we're really striving for yet.

"Really, right now it's (about) playing good golf and learning to get better."

Murphy said Taylor landed in the lineup because of an ability to consistently shoot par.

"Troy is a par machine," Murphy said. "He's down the middle, he hits the green; he's so consistent. There's just not a lot of wayward shots. ...

"Jared and Matt will play in the 70s or low 80s most of the time. Really, we're just trying to get through to these guys that they're playing the golf course, not the others in their group."

Also on the roster are sophomores Trent Harris and Jacob Kotik, both of whom were on the team last year.

South lost district-qualifier Justin Arens to graduation. Arens, who now golfs at Austin Peay, shot 77 and did not advance to state.

SCHEDULES CENTRAL

Aug. 6 -- Westerville Central Invitational at Little Turtle

Aug. 7 -- OCC-Cardinal at Turnberry

Aug. 8 -- Mount Vernon Invitational at Chapel Hill

Aug. 11 -- Newark Catholic Invitational at Moundbuilders

Aug. 12 -- OCC-Cardinal at Clover Valley

Aug. 16 -- Cincinnati Sycamore Invitational at Blue Ash

Aug. 18 -- Olentangy Liberty atBlackhawk

Aug. 21 -- Marysville and Olentangy Orange at The Lakes

Aug. 23 -- Cincinnati Moeller Invitational at Walden Ponds

Aug. 27 -- OCC-Cardinal at Apple Valley

Aug. 30 -- Worthington Christian Invitational at Turnberry

Sept. 6 -- St. Charles Invitational at Brookside

Sept. 9 -- Olentangy Orange, Westerville North and Westerville South at Medallion

Sept. 10 -- OCC-Cardinal at Darby Creek

Sept. 11 -- Mount Vernon, Westerville North and Westerville South at Med-allion

Sept. 18 -- Lancaster, Westerville North and Westerville South at Medallion

Sept. 23 -- Mount Vernon, Westerville North and Westerville South at Medallion